I suspect that there are quite a few lurking Wannabes who haven't yet started down the road to becoming a professional pilot and are wondering how to go about it, and are hoping that all the answers are here on Pprune! Well, most of them are here, but sometimes it's difficult to collate it all into one place, and then you have to sort the good info from the rubbish.

So, you guys, take a look at this on the GAPAN website: So You Want To Be A Pilot . It's a very well written book covering just about all you need to know, with contact details for further research.

Recommended!

For those who can't see the wood for the trees here on Pprune, the very first thread on this forum is a 'sticky' (it's always in the same place). It's called Archive Reference Threads - READ BEFORE YOU POST A QUESTION. It contains a huge amount of valuable information about the process of getting a licence, the schools you might be considering, the job itself, and much, much more. You'll see it linked to many, many times in this thread because this thread is a collation of the many 'How do I become a pilot?' threads.

Please read carefully before you ask a question that has been answered many times before.

Scroggs

[email protected]

Scroggs,

This is a truly comprehensive document covering many, if not all aspect of pilots in aviation. A credit to those who helped to produce it

Would it perhaps be worthwhile making this post a ‘sticky’ one, saving it from the deep realms of the wannabe’s forum……

Just a thought

Funkie

This thread has an excellent description of what to expect

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ighlight=gapan

(I hope it links)

I think the Royal Aeronautical Society have a similar publication. If its the one I am thinking there is a picture of Mike Bannister sat on the Concorde flight deck towards the front.

I can also highly recommend the book by Clive Hughes 'The guide to getting a CPL'

Jinkster

Given all the whingeing from the seasoned pilots on pprune (bad pay, poor rostering, long hours, high divorce rate, poorly valued by airlines...etc) why would anyone want to become a pilot?

Because we've tried and failed at everything else & decided being a pilot will have to do

This is why....




Photos speak for themselves....

Could not have said/shown it better myself FlyUK!

Newsflash - every single career / industry has people moaning about certain aspects of that particular industry. If your doing something day in day out, lifestyle factors do become important and some things will pi$$ you off!

In terms of why? ... As FlyUK said, the photos speak for themselves and if you need more convincing go and work in an office - its grim

Actually, those photos show me what good fun is to be had flying light, aerobatic aircraft. They do nothing to demonstrate the benefits of being an airline pilot, which is a rather different matter - and with rather less glass to look out of!

Scroggs

I'm looking for a little adivce from those who are 'in the game'.

I have a little over 100 hrs TT and am currently hour building to get my 100hrs P1 so I can start my CPL. My goal is commercial flying, although at this stage I'm not too concerned where i end up, passengers, freight, small or large aircraft, I don't mind.

I am unsure on the best route to get there; would it be wise to get an FI rating and build my hours up that way, or in this day and age, would i be able to get some work once I have the main ratings?

Also, what ratings would put me in good stead. I presume that a MEP and IR are absolutely necessary, but would doing ATPL ground exams be of benefit, and is there anything else?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I would also like to point out that I am trying to do this concurrently with working full time, as it all needs to be funded. This makes me think of another question, which is what sort of time frame should I give to this all (I'm 25 now).

Many thanks in advance,

Jonnoboy

Have you thought about doing your ATPL subjects before you start the CPL. This way you dont have to sit the CPL exams. It also saves you money. Dont worry about FI ratings at the moment. Concentrate on passing the ATPL exams and then doing your CPL / ME IR and MCC.
At this point I would look at your options and how the airline market is looking.
A FI rating would now be a good way to hour build. Remember that the IR is only valid for a year so the cost of revalidation will need to be considered.
Hope this helps a bit. There will be plenty of other people out there giving different advice. This is my quick interpretation.

There is no 100hrsP1 requirement to start the course.

OK, but there is a requirement to have 150hrs TT right? If so, I still need about 40 hrs, of which most will be P1 so will satisfy both requirements to ultimately enable the issuing of the CPL.

JB

Yep, 150 TT is correct - but then remember that if you do the course in the minimum 25 hours, take 2 hours for your flight test...you'll have 177 TT. Not enough to apply for the CPL. 200TT minimum.

Best deal? Get yourself to the 150TT - then start the course but, before you do the test, spend some of your extra P1 hours practising what you have been taught.

I'm assuming you've already passed all the written examinations, have a Class 1 JAA medical and, if going for a UK CAA issued CPL, have passed the UK Radio Telephony Licence examinations.

Don't forget the required Night Qualification (5hrs).

To be honest, I am at the beginning of the commercial route. I am yet to do the class 1 medical, or ground exams. I am currently working in Oz until the middle of the year, so my hour building is really just fun, cheap flying over beautiful scenery I'd be doing anyway.

I plan to start the CPL ground exams (after medical) on my return to the UK, although will be reading up on the topics while abroad as a member of my family has recently completed his CPL thus have books etc.

While doing these exams thorugh distance learning, i'll do my night rating and finish my aerobatics course (for fun!) and continue towards that 200TT figure with the hope of getting to an employable position in about 2 years from now. I'll have my work cut out as working as well but think it is possible.

This kinda brings me back to my original question, which is would i be better off doing the CPL and getting an FI rating to build my hours up without worrying about the ME and IR for the time being, or should I do it all and hope to get work with between 2-300 hours? Is this likely, or even possible?

Cheers,

JB

JB,

One thing to consider if you do choose the FI route to build hours, having only a CPL, is the expense of the ME/IR and then an MCC. As a FI you will earn barely enough to live, let alone to pay for your additional ratings.

If I was you the 1st thing I would do before anything else is to get a class 1 medical. Once you have that, then do the ATPL studies prior to carrying out any CPL/FI training. The ATPL exams are valid for 3 years after that date of your final exam pass by which time you must have built up sufficient time for your ATPL to become unfrozen. And for your ATPL to become unfrozen, you need a valid IR and ME Rating. Sound confusing? It does to me too!!!

In short I would advise

1. Class 1 medical
2. ATPL theory exams
3. Hour building
4. CPL
5. IR/ME
6. MCC
7. Job hunting

I would try and complete points 1 to 7 in as short a time frame as possible because the industry has a lot of movement going on at the moment and is forecast to expand, creating more jobs for pilots.

Whatever you decide, good luck. I've recently completed all of the above training, so I'm "current". PM me if you need more info.

DMK

This is why....





Real reason?
At school I spent my time looking out the window, got pretty good at it..decided to make it a career...

Cheers DMK, sounds a good plan